Wild Knights overwhelm Verblitz

OTA, GUNMA PREF. – Panasonic Wild Knights got what is in all likelihood the post-Sonny Bill Williams era off to a winning start when they beat Toyota Verblitz 40-17 at Ota Sports Park on Sunday.

The inside word from the Panasonic camp is that the injured former All Black is unlikely to play again in the Top League though he is set to return to Gunma Prefecture next week to prepare alongside Australian flyhalf Quade Cooper for their boxing bouts in Brisbane in February.

And if truth be told, the Wild Knights looked a much better team without Williams — who played just seven games — as they handed Toyota and World Cup winner Jerome Kaino their third loss of the rugby season.